Friday, December 21, 2007

I was invited to lunch at my lovely friend Helen's yesterday, where we would enjoy home cooked quiche in her delightful cottage in rural Somerset.

After the drive over in severe frost and fog, I was ready to relax, have lots of chats and get into the festive mood.

Before entering Helen's cosy kitchen, she explained that she had decided to invite some more guests and hoped I didn't mind....

Well this is the sight that greeted my eyes as we walked into the room. Helen's guests were a group of fuzzy vintage creatures, dancing in a circle around the tea light in the centre of the lunch table!!So funny! But so adorable too! And very typical of Helen's sense of humour!The party continued as we sat beside the toasty wood burner.....and outside the window we watched this family of Long Tailed Tits having their lunch too...

until there was just one left, who seemed to be watching us!

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I had such a wonderful time and didn't leave until dark. Helen kindly gave me these sweet smelling pink Hyacinth bulbs that are just coming into flower.I have placed them inside an enamelware bowl in my kitchen - the perfect reminder of a lovely day.Today I have been decorating our home for Christmas, including the tree, which I shall try to take some photos of tomorrow. The bauble wreath has been hung on the mirror in our living room and is the one that I made last year.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

I received a glorious parcel yesterday from Ginny, which was so beautifully wrapped. We arranged our own private swap between us and this is what arrived. I wish you could smell this candle - the fragrance is so intense - Cinnamony and Christmasy - divine!

Inside the other gift was a scrummy pile of fabrics tied with ribbon and lace and one of Ginny's handmade ballet boot lavender sachets. She has made these for many years and I have always coveted them and now I am lucky enough to own one!I have hung it from the key to my French armoire.

Thank you Ginny for your generous gift - I of course, love everything!

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I have worked on creating a costume for the plaster half doll that I received in a swap parcel from Louise recently. I used a section from a strong cardboard poster tube to bring her up in height, gluing it in place with my glue gun. There is a plastic stopper in the bottom, so I can hide secret things inside her!!

I then set about styling her hair with ostrich feathers, millinery forget-me-nots and a vintage magenta rhinestone brooch.

Her bodice is made from a section of beaded chiffon with a deep cummerbund decorated with a vintage dyed mother-of-pearl buckle.The skirt is stitched from a 1920's eiderdown cotton printed with pale Hollyhocks, with antique lace hem and overlaid with dusky pink net at her waist. I also repainted her finger nails in pastel pink and gave her a small glass bead necklace.

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Today was the last posting date for Christmas deliveries - I would like to thank everyone who has made a purchase from my website this year, which I appreciate very much indeed.

Things are starting to get a little more festive around here.....We will be decorating our Christmas tree tomorrow........

Sunday, December 16, 2007

We have always waited until the girls have broken up from school before decorating our home for Christmas. We shall be buying a real Christmas tree next week.

But my eldest two daughters return home from University this weekend (can't wait!), so I wanted to add a bit of a festive feel to the home to welcome them.

I brought some twigs in from the garden and placed them in a big Victorian china jug. I then hung all of the vintage glass baubles that I found at the flea market last week onto the branches.

On the table top I displayed my glitter village. These are very difficult to find in the UK, so I bought these last year from the States. Unfortunately, they didn't arrive in time for Christmas, so this is there first airing!!

I think there is now a company in the UK selling some, so no doubt they will be everywhere next year.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend and getting into the festive spirit, Niki x

Thursday, December 13, 2007

I recently went Christmas shopping at Lucy Blooms Blog shop. My order arrived beautifully presented in a vintage rose-fabric case. Inside were these lovely items, each hand made by Lucy. The quality of everything is excellent and they are such useful pretties too! I have to wrap them up as a Christmas present for a friend, but I am very tempted to keep some for myself!!

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Another parcel to arrive in the post this week, was from Louise, who arranged a private swap between the two of us. I received the vintage plaster half doll, which I intend to make a gown for over the Christmas break. She also kindly sent me one of her hand made lace corsages. I decided to add this to a lampshade in my living room.

Thank you Louise - I love the parcels that you sent to me - including all of the little extras!

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And finally, you may remember that I mentioned that I entered the Cath Kidston 'Make Your Own Stanley' competition, in a previous post. Well I am thrilled to bits because I actually won a runner-up prize!

Apparently they had so many entries that they decided to have three winners and eight runners up. I will receive some CK gift vouchers, which I will enjoy spending!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

I need to make this a brief post, as I have guests arriving for a few days very shortly; but I just wanted to share with you the treasures that I came home with from the Flea market on Sunday.

There was a particular stand there that I found completely incredible and nostalgic. The stall holder had bought the entire contents of a shop in Malta. Amazingly all of the stock dated from the 1950's and 60's and included masses of Christmas decorations, tiny cracker toys, haberdashery, hair accessories and beauty products.

To be able to buy just a small selection of these completely unused items, made my day! It is always surprising how small prices soon add up, so I had to restrain myself! - But I am chuffed with my purchases. Which included all of the above and these tiny ribbon rosettes, perfect for my handmade dolls.....

Wonderfully 'Shabby Chic' tiny paper baubles......

These Chinese paper lanterns in pastel shades....

And some tiny kitsch plastic baskets which will be the perfect accessory for fairy folk!

The sparkly jewelery pieces are a Christmas present, which I may place inside the little pink silk lined basket .

And finally I was over-the-moon to discover over 100 vintage glass Christmas decorations.I'm not quite ready to decorate the house for the festive season, so have stored them in my painted chest of drawers - I have to keep going and having a sneaky-peek every now and then!!